Poland & Prague: Divine Mercy

Day 1: Departure
Depart USA to Warsaw, Poland, from your local airport. Enjoy a full meal and inflight entertainment (movies, music, etc.) on your overnight flight. 

Day 2: Arrival in Warsaw, Poland

Arrive at Warsaw Chopin Airport. Upon arrival, proceed to Baggage Claim and to the Arrivals Hall, where you will be greeted by our local Trinity Tour Travels guide and driver who will accompany you throughout the pilgrimage. Depending on arrival time, we begin our pilgrimage with lunch and a visit to the iconic church of St. James. Known for its famous splendid tower and square base, this is the site where Maria Faustina Kowalska (St. Faustina) first attended Mass and emersed herself in continual contemplative prayer upon first arriving in Warsaw. She knew no one in the city, and her times spent at St. James in deep prayer played a huge role in her journey toward sainthood. It is here where she met her confessor, Fr. Dabrowski, who assisted her in entering the convent. Turned down by many convents due to her evident poverty, she ultimately entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy as a housemaid. After working a year to pay for the cost of her habit, she was accepted as a novice at the age of 20.

Day 3: Warsaw

Following breakfast at the hotel, our day begins with a walking tour of Warsaw. Exploring Old Town, we stroll its charming streets marked by beautiful cobblestone maze-like alleys and walkways. The architecture is picturesque and symbolic of Poland’s reconstruction after WWII. We visit the center of the city, Market Square (filled with restaurants, cafes, and shops), the Warsaw Barbican (a semicircular fortified outpost rebuilt following the war), and the Warsaw Ghetto Monument that commemorates the ghetto uprising of 1943. We visit Saint Anne's Church and the Holy Cross Church where the heart of the composer Chopin is kept in an urn. The walking tour ends at the famous Nowy Swiat Pedestrian Street. Lunch on your own before we proceed to Lazienski Park, the Chopin Statue, and the Royal Castle (the official residence of the Polish monarchs). We visit the Stanislaw Kostka Church which houses the museum and sanctuary of Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko. Killed in 1984 by communists, Fr. Jerzy was well known for his great personality and popular Masses which attracted people (particularly those fighting for social justice) from all around Poland.  The church houses his tomb where St. Pope John Paul II visited to pray in 1987. An estimated 20 million from over 100 countries have visited this Holy place. Mass is celebrated here on this day upon confirmation.

Day 4: Warsaw | Niepokalanow | Swinice Warckie | Czestochowa

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive a short way from Warsaw to Niepokalanow ( “Town of the Immaculate Virgin”) to visit the Franciscan monastery founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1927. Mass is celebrated here on this day.  It was this great saint’s intention to establish a center focused on the spiritual revival of the Polish nation which had been kept in bondage for over 120 years. Begun when anti-Catholic rhetoric was at its height, it became the largest Catholic religious house in the world. Within just a few years, the number of monks (Knights of the Immaculata) increased from 18 to 650!  In 1941, St. Maximilian Kolbe was arrested a final time by Nazis and was transferred to Auschwitz, ultimately giving up his life for a fellow prisoner. Lunch on your own before we visit the village of Swinice Warckie and the Church of Saint Casimir.  This is the church of St. Faustina's family where she received the sacraments of Baptism, First Confession, and First Holy Communion. After visiting this elegantly simple church, we continue to Czestochowa.

Day 5: Czestochowa | Krakow

Following breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Poland's most grand 14th-century pilgrimage shrine, The Jasna Gora Monastery. This is home to the beloved icon of the Black Madonna. Tradition maintains that St. Luke the Evangelist (and iconographer) wrote this image on a tabletop from the home of the Holy Family, and it was later discovered and rescued by St. Helen.  St. Pope John Paul II visited this sanctuary 6 times during his papacy and presented it with the blood-soiled papal belt from his assassination attempt in 1981. Here, we not only venerate the holy icon, but numerous other treasures contained within. Mass is celebrated in one of the chapels here this day. We stop for lunch and we then travel to Krakow. We explore Krakow's Market Square which dates to the 13th century and has remained relatively unchanged for almost 700 years!  From this, the largest medieval town square in Europe, we hear the beautiful sounds of the silver trumpets from the tower of St. Mary's Basilica.  Built in the 13th century, this basilica is renowned for its most incredible and magnificent carved wooden altar. We walk about and take in the historic buildings of the Town Square, The Cloth Hall, and The Burgher’s Houses. During your free time, make sure to stop in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel in the Square.

Day 6: Krakow | Zakopane

After breakfast at the hotel, we travel 2 hours through villages and mountains to the remote and delightful Zakopane. In this breathtaking village within the Tatra Mountains, we hop on board a fun cable car for a ride up the mountaintop for a panoramic and unforgettable view. Free time for lunch and relaxing before visiting the nearby architecturally distinct Jaszczorowka  Chapel. This chapel was visited many times by the young Karol Wojtyla, as he often used the nearby walking paths leading to it for his times of prayer and reflection. We stop at Krupowki Street, known for its colorful shops and local bazaars before returning to Krakow for free time and strolling through the Old City. A charming and memorable day! Mass location this day to be determined.

Day 7: Krakow | Auschwitz  | Krakow

Breakfast at the hotel prior to visiting Wawel Hill, home to some of the most impressive sites in Poland: the historic Wawel Castle, The Royal Castle National Museum, The Coronation Chapel, and The Cathedral. Numerous exquisite pieces of Gothic, Renaissance, and Modern Art are exhibited, and the Cathedral houses the tomb of the patron saint of Poland, St. Stanislaus. After lunch nearby, we drive to the city of Oswiecim to visit The Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. Established in 1940 by Nazi Germany, darkness and sorrow overtake the atmosphere upon arrival in this area which stands as a reminder of some of the darkest moments in human history. It is here where St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) faced martyrdom. We pray at the cell that imprisoned St. Kolbe which remains perpetually lit with a Pascal Candle. A visit to the Martyrdom Museum ends our day.

Day 8: Krakow | Lagiewniki | Wieliczka | Krakow

Following breakfast at the hotel, we visit Lagiewniki where through the mediation of St. Faustina, Jesus passed on the message of Divine Mercy. We visit The Shrine of Divine Mercy which contains images of The Merciful Jesus, the relics of St. Faustina, and houses the saint’s convent chapel and her tomb. Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed and Mass is celebrated here this day. Some free time to explore the shrine and visit the gift shop. We visit the Have No Fear Center nearby where St. Pope John Paul II’s saint’s blood-stain cassock from his assassination attempt and his blood relic are housed.  We then drive to Wieliczka to visit Europe's oldest salt mine. Excavated in the 13th century, it continuously produced table salt until 2007. It is now an official historical monument of Poland, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site. We walk the labyrinthine passageways, including several shafts, an underground lake, numerous salt rock carvings, four chapels, and a special appearance by Chopin! 

Day 9: Krakow | Wadowice | Prague

Breakfast at the hotel with an early check-out. We begin our drive to Prague, Czech Republic (7.5 hours). En route, we stop in Wadowice, the birthplace of St. Pope John Paul II. We visit the house where this beloved saint’s family lived and where he was born, which remains filled with the family’s personal belongings. We visit The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary where he was baptized and attended Mass throughout his childhood. Mass is celebrated here this day.  We continue our journey to Prague, which is considered to be the most beautiful city in the world by many! The capital city and largest city in the Czech Republic, Prague is a city of rich Bohemian history, magnificent soaring steeples, domed rooftops, museums, and a multitude of splendid attractions! During our time in this majestic city, we visit the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter, and the Astronomical Clock. Evenings and nights in Prague are filled with music, concerts, and entertainment. On the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, a visit to Prague is truly a memorable one!

Day 10: Prague

Following breakfast at the hotel, we view the Strahov Monastery and attend Mass nearby. We take a walking tour of Prague including the Hradcany Castle, the impressive St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George Basilica, and the Golden Lane with its adorable, colorful “fairyland” cottages that are gift shops and cafes. Schedule permitting, we see the changing of the guard at the castle! We take a tour of the breathtaking St. Nicholas Church (described as the greatest example of Prague Baroque). Free time follows for lunch on your own and exploring more of the city. We meet later in the afternoon for a visit to Old Town by crossing the Charles Bridge to Lesser Town Square to see the antics of the Astronomical Clock. This remarkable clock was first installed in 1410 and is the oldest clock still in operation! Our walking tour aims to arrive several minutes before the hour to behold the tradition of the bell! 

Day 11: Warsaw  |  USA

An early breakfast at the hotel and we celebrate our final Mass together at The Church of Our Lady of Victory. Also known as The Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague, this church was built in 1600 and is home to the renown statue, “The Infant of Prague”, noted for its depiction of baby Jesus holding the “globus cruciger” (cross-bearing globe). The highly venerated image celebrated its 200 years of Pontifical Coronation in 2024. We continue by bus to Wenceslas Square (named after the patron saint of Bohemia), the place with the busiest pedestrian traffic in the whole country! Lunch on your own with free time to further explore this incredible city!